讀名畫：阿波羅和達芙妮

Joe

About the painting

The painting，called Apollo and Daphne，waspainted by John William Waterhouse in 1908. Waterhouse was among the most popular Victorianartists. He's known for working in the Pre-Raphaelitestyle. In the paining was a terrified girl running awayfrom the God Apollo.

The girl was Daphne，the daughter of the rivergod Peneus. One day the love god Eros took twoarrows，one of gold and the other of lead. He shotApollo with the golden one，which was to inspire loveand Daphne with the leaden one，inspiring hatred. SoApollo felt in love with Daphne while Daphne wantednothing to do with him. Apollo kept chasing downher and she just ran away from him. Soon she grewweary in her running and Apollo would catch her atlast. Fearful，she called out to her father for help. Asall gods of water had the ability of transformation，Peneus transformed his daughter into a laurel tree. Apollo reached the laurel tree and claimed the treeas his special tree，and adorned himself with some ofits leaves. And that is why the laurel was a symbol ofApollo.

More about Apollo

Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto. Accordingto Greek mythology，Leto was driven by Hera formal and to land; at last Poseidon took pity on her andbrought the island of Delos out of water for her tolive on. There she gave birth to the twins，Apollo andArtemis.

Apollo was the sun god. He wore a purple robe. He usually sat in his bright eastern palace early inthe morning and made ready to start his daily journeyacross the sky. During the day he drove his carriageof gold and ivory，and brought light，life and loveto the great world below. Late in the afternoon hecame to the end of his journey in the far western seaand got on his golden boat to return to his easternhome.

Apollo was also the god of music and poetry. He could stir up all feelings. These feelings areexpressed in lofty songs. With his lyre of gold and the sweet accents of his godlike voice heldthe choir of the Muses at Olympus. The pleasant music from his lyre was so exciting that stonesmarched into their places in rhythmic time and of their own will when he helped Poseidon build upthe walls of Troy. On one occasion，invited to a contest by the human musician Marsyas，he wonand then flayed him to death for his pride. On another occasion，he lost out to Pan at a musical contest and turned the ears of the judge，King Midas，into those of an ass.

His son，Orpheus，took over such skill from the father that his lyre moved man and animals alike. Apollo stood for youthful and manly beauty. His golden hair，stately manner and air allcombined to make him the admiration of the world. A beautiful girl，by the name of Clytle，was so fond of his beauty and glory that from dawn to dusk she knelt on the ground，her handsoutstretched towards the sun god，and her eyes looked at his golden wheeled carriage racingacross the blue sky. Though her love was not returned，she had never changed her mind aboutApollo. The gods were moved at the sad sight，and changed her into a sunflower.

關于這幅畫

這幅畫名為《阿波羅和達芙妮》，是畫家約翰威廉沃特豪斯于1908年所作。沃特豪斯是維多利亞時代最受歡迎的畫家之一，以前拉斐爾派風格著稱。畫中可見一驚恐女子從阿波羅身邊逃開。

這位女子名叫達芙妮，是河神佩紐斯之女。一天，愛神厄洛斯拿了兩支箭，一支金箭，一支鉛箭。他用金箭射中了阿波羅，將鉛箭射向了達芙妮。前者在中箭人心中激起了無限愛意，而后者則在中箭人心中激起了憎惡之情。于是阿波羅愛上了達芙妮，而達芙妮卻不愿與他有任何瓜葛。阿波羅不停地追逐著達芙妮，達芙妮則不停地逃跑。不久，達芙妮便跑累了，眼看就要被阿波羅追到了，驚恐之下，她向父親求助。作為水神，佩紐斯有著變形的天賦，他將女兒變成了一棵月桂樹。阿波羅伸手撫摸著月桂樹，宣布該樹為他專有，并用她的樹葉佩戴在身上。月桂樹由此成了阿波羅的象征。

關于阿波羅

在眾多的奧林匹斯山神中，主神宙斯和雷托之子阿波羅最受推崇。據(jù)希臘神話記載，雷托被天后赫拉驅趕得四處流浪。最終是海神波塞冬憐憫她，從海中撈起提落島讓她居住。在島上，她生了孿生兒子阿波羅和阿爾特彌斯。

阿波羅是太陽神。清晨他身著紫袍，坐在那明亮的東方宮殿，準備開始每日穿越天空的旅行。白天，他駕著用金子和象牙制成的戰(zhàn)車，給廣闊無垠的大地帶來光明、生命和仁愛。黃昏時分，他在遙遠的西海結束了旅行，然后就乘上金船返回東方的家中。

阿波羅還是音樂神和詩神。他可喚起人們傾注于圣歌中的各種情感。在奧林匹斯山上，他手拿金質(zhì)豎琴，用悅耳的音調(diào)指揮繆斯的合唱。當他幫助波塞冬建造特洛伊城墻時，豎琴奏出的音樂如此動聽，以致石頭有節(jié)奏地、自動地各就其位。有一次他接受凡人音樂家馬斯亞斯的挑戰(zhàn)參加一次競賽。戰(zhàn)勝對方后，他將對手剝皮致死以懲罰他的狂妄自大。在另外一次音樂比賽中，因輸給了潘神，他就將裁判邁爾斯國王的耳朵變成了驢耳朵。

阿波羅的兒子俄耳甫斯繼承了父親這方面的才能。他的豎琴使人與動物皆受感動。

阿波羅象征著青春和男子漢的美。銫的頭發(fā)、莊重的舉止、容光煥發(fā)的神態(tài)，這些足以使他受到世人的青睞。一位名叫克里提的美麗少女迷戀于他的英俊瀟灑，跪在地上，從黎明到黃昏，雙手伸向太陽神。她凝視著那輛金質(zhì)馬車在蔚藍的天空馳騁。雖然她的愛并未得到回應，但她對阿波羅的癡情卻從未改變。目睹這悲哀的場面，眾神深受感動，將她變成了一株向日葵。